Heber City Police engaged in a four-hour armed standoff in response to a weapons offense and domestic violence incident in Heber City just before 9 p.m. Tuesday. Police, assisted by a Special Weapons and Tactics team, arrested Billy Tiedemann, 39, and Jason Carlston, 46.
Police said the argument erupted into a domestic violence incident when the victim observed that Tiedemann “made their children brush their teeth with an essential oil toothpaste, which reportedly caused a burning sensation.” A media advisory stated that Tiedemann assaulted the victim and her two children when she attempted to leave the residence.
Tiedemann allegedly discharged a firearm multiple times in response, prompting neighbors to call 911.
Responding officers first attempted to contact Tiedemann by phone, but police said he “remained belligerent and refused to cooperate.” Ultimately, a SWAT team was called, resulting in a “tense, four-hour standoff” that led to the deployment of tear gas into Tiedemann’s home, where he had barricaded himself.
Carlston, Tiedemann’s roommate, was also in residence and did not leave when officers offered him the opportunity to leave the premises. Police said Carlston “refused to comply and interfered with the investigation,” and made threats toward officers during the incident.
Sgt. Joshua Weishar said that often when “less-than-lethal” force is required to address an incident, a SWAT team will come to the aid of Heber police.
“As long as there’s nobody that’s in harm’s way inside of the home, we’re not necessarily going to make entry into the home. Our tactic was to surround the home,” Weishar said. “Department of Public Safety provided us with a helicopter for some eyes on from above, and then we had a SWAT team come out with some of our tear gas rounds.”
The suspects were eventually taken into custody after officers deployed tear gas through the windows of Tiedemann’s home.
“It’s pretty horrible to be sitting in the middle of that,” Weishar said. “It wasn’t too long after that that he surrendered and came out.”
Tiedemann is facing 12 total charges, including one count of assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, four counts of assault on a peace officer and two counts of disorderly conduct.
With five former felony convictions, Tiedemann is currently serving probation for a prior misdemeanor. Because of his criminal history and that he allegedly “had been drinking” prior to the incident, Tiedemann is facing additional charges of felony discharge of a firearm, intoxication and carrying a dangerous weapon under the influence.
Due to the severity of the incident and Tiedemann’s criminal history, arresting officers requested that he be held in the Wasatch County Jail without bail.
Carlston is facing six charges including one count of interfering with a peace officer, four counts of assault on a peace officer, intoxication, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct after being asked to cease.
Weishar said that police received the initial call at around 8:50 p.m. With assistance from SWAT, officers took the suspects into custody around 1 in the morning.